During and while both place an action in time, but they need different grammar. During is a preposition, so it takes a noun: "during the meeting". While is a conjunction, so it takes a clause with a subject and a verb: "while we were talking".
The two words also answer different questions. During answers "when did it happen?" and points to a period. While answers "what else was happening?" and joins two actions happening at the same time.
This page explains the grammar of each word, compares them with for and when, and finishes with 20 drill sentences with an explanation under every answer.
The rule
During + noun
- During is followed by a noun phrase: during the lesson, during the summer, during the night, during my holiday.
- It answers the question when, and it points to a period of time.
- Do not put a clause after during: "during I was away" is wrong.
- During can sit at the start or in the middle: "During the break, we talked" and "We talked during the break".
While + subject and verb
- While joins a clause with its own subject and verb: "while I was cooking", "while she studied".
- It answers the question what else was happening at that time.
- The main action is often shorter and interrupts the while action: "I got a text while I was driving".
- While can also contrast two facts: "While I like tea, I prefer coffee."
While + -ing
- When the subject of both parts is the same, while can take an -ing form: "While cooking, I listened to the radio."
- The full clause and the -ing form mean the same: "While I was cooking, I listened to the radio."
- Use the -ing form only when both actions share one subject, or the meaning becomes confusing.
- After during, the -ing form works as a noun: "During cooking, the phone rang."
During or for?
- During says when something happened inside a period: "I fell asleep during the film."
- For says how long something lasted: "I slept for two hours."
- For answers "how long?"; during answers "when inside that period?".
- Both can appear in one sentence: "I slept for two hours during the flight."
While or when?
- While is for longer background actions: "While we were waiting, it started to rain."
- When is for a moment or a complete action: "When the rain started, we went inside."
- Both words fit many sentences, but while emphasises duration and when emphasises the moment.
- With two short actions, when is the natural choice: "When she called, I answered."
Examples
- I fell asleep during the film.During takes the noun phrase the film.
- I fell asleep while I was watching the film.While takes a full clause with a subject and verb.
- The shop is closed during the holidays.During points to a period.
- While the shop was closed, we used the market.While joins two clauses.
- While walking to work, I saw an old friend.One subject, so while + -ing works.
- The phone rang during dinner.During answers when inside the meal.
- The phone rang while we were eating dinner.While joins the two simultaneous actions.
- He read the whole book during the journey.During the journey, not during he travelled.
- He read the whole book while he travelled.A clause follows while.
- Please do not talk during the exam.During introduces the period of the exam.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: I fell asleep during I was watching the film. Right: I fell asleep while I was watching the film.
- A clause needs while, not during. During takes a noun.
- Wrong: While the lesson, we took notes. Right: During the lesson, we took notes.
- The lesson is a noun phrase, so during is the right word.
- Wrong: I stayed in London while three weeks. Right: I stayed in London for three weeks.
- For answers how long. While joins clauses, not periods of time.
- Wrong: During the meeting was long, we took notes. Right: While the meeting was long, we took notes.
- The clause with was needs while. During cannot introduce a clause.
- Wrong: I heard the news during I drove home. Right: I heard the news while I was driving home.
- A subject and verb need while, and the background action often uses the past continuous.
Practice drill
Answer all 20 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
I met Anna ___ the conference.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. during A noun phrase follows the gap, so during is the preposition that fits.
The phone rang ___ I was taking a shower.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. while A clause with a subject and verb follows, so while is needed.
He slept ___ the whole flight.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. during During + the noun phrase the whole flight points to the period.
Please turn off your phone ___ the exam.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. during During introduces the period of the exam.
___ I was walking home, it started to snow.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. While The clause I was walking needs the conjunction while.
We talked ___ the break.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. during The break is a noun, so during is the correct preposition.
She read a book ___ she waited for the train.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. while While joins the two clauses about the same time.
I stayed in Rome ___ five days.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. for For answers how long; during and while do not measure a length of time.
___ cooking, I listened to the radio.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. While While + -ing works when both actions share the same subject.
The lights went out ___ the storm.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. during The storm is a noun phrase, and during points to the period.
He called me ___ I was having lunch.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. while The clause I was having lunch needs while.
No talking ___ the film, please.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. during The film is the noun period, so during is correct.
___ we were waiting, the manager came out.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. While A full clause follows, so while introduces the background action.
I learned a lot ___ my stay in Dublin.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. during My stay is a noun phrase, so during fits.
The children played outside ___ their parents cooked.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. while While joins two actions happening at the same time.
I did not sleep at all ___ the night.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. during The night is a noun period, so during is the correct preposition.
She fell and hurt her knee ___ she was running.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. while The clause she was running needs while.
Prices went up ___ the summer.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. during The summer is a noun phrase, so during introduces the period.
I sent three emails ___ I was on the train.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. while While joins the clause about the train journey to the email action.
Do not use your phone ___ the lesson.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. during The lesson is a noun, so during is the preposition needed.
Drill complete
You answered every question.
Next topic: By car, on foot, in a taxi: transport prepositionsTake the level test
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between during and while?
During is a preposition and takes a noun: during the night, during lunch. While is a conjunction and takes a clause: while we slept, while the rain fell. Use during when you name a period, and while when you describe an action that was going on at the same time.
Can while be followed by -ing?
Yes, when the subject of the -ing action is the same as the subject of the main clause: "While waiting for the bus, I read a chapter." The full form is "While I was waiting for the bus, I read a chapter." If the subjects are different, use the full clause: "While I waited, she read."
Is during the same as in?
They overlap. In often names the period itself: "in the summer", "in July". During stresses that something happens inside that period: "during the summer". With most periods, both work: "in the morning" and "during the morning" are fine. During is the safer choice when the exact moment inside the period matters.
More grammar topics
By car, on foot, in a taxi: transport prepositions
By + vehicle for the way you travel, on or in + a/the + vehicle when you picture the journey, and the fixed phrase on foot.
Prepositions at the end of questions
Wh- questions often end in a preposition because the question word is the object; formal English moves it to the front.
Future in the past: was going to and would
The past forms of will and going to: plans that may never happen, predictions and interrupted moments.
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